of richmond



1 1927. Aug J. A. REAMS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING CLAY PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 2. 1926 5] wave "for,

Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,639,271 PATENT orrica.

JOSEPH ASHBY REAI/IS, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. ASSIGNOR TO FULTON BRICK WORKS, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING CLAY PRODUCTS.

Application filed December 2, 1926. Serial No. 152,156.

The object of this invention is to avoid injury to the product, reduce the cost of burning by economizing in fuel as well as time. and to avoid injury to the furnace by overheating, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a brick-kiln furnace constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating the manner of operating the furnace during the preliminary, drying period;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the manner of operating the furnace during the final, burning period.

In carrying out my invention, employ a furnace constructed as ordinarily, except that it is provided with an overhead stoking means consisting preferably of a passage 5 formed in the arch of the furnace adjacent the front wall of the furnace, this passage being provided with a cover 6 adapted to be held open or closed. I further pro vide the furnace with a supplemental airsupply passage 7 extending down through the arch, adjacent the back wall of the furnace, so as to deliver the air just over the flame-outlet S in the back-wall of the furnace, this outlet leading, of course, as usual to the burning-chamber in which the bricks or other products are arranged in the usual manner. 'ihis air-passage 7 is provided with a door 9 to enable the amount of air to be varied from time to time as conditions may require. The furnace is also provided with the usual grate 10, ventilating ash-pit-door l1, and shovel-stoker-door 12.

In carrying out my method, I fire the furnace in the usual manner, through the fire-door 12, during the preliminary, drying period, usually referred to as water smoking. This water smoking generally requires several days. During this period, the door 6 is left open, and the door 9 is adjusted to deliver a supplemental supply of air to support combustion of the gases arising from the coal-bed. In addition, of course, such air as is needed is supplied through the ash-pit-door as Well as the stoking-door. During this period. it'is inevitable, as is well known, that a large amount of smoke will be produced. I-Ieretofore this I smoke has passed into the kiln, but in-my present furnace I prevent it entering the kiln by shunting it out through the passage 5, into the atmosphere. I have found that by properly adjusting the draft, sufficient smoke will pass out through passage 5 during this stage of the operation to enable the flames to consume whatever smoke is carried into the kiln through the flame-passage 8, whereby I protect the product from soot deposits during this stage of the operation. Of course, this dischargng of the smoke into the atmosphere involves a waste of fuel. but in practice I have found that the results of practicing my method render this waste negligible.

After the water smoking period is finished and the bricks or other products are thus thoroughly dried, I convert the furnace into a gas-producer by ceasing to fire through the door 12 and thereafter firing through the over-head passage 5, as shown in Fig. 2. The fuel is dumped down into the passage 5 as fast as it is consumed in the comaustionchamber. The fuel may be piled up in this passage to the top end thereof and allowed to gravitate as the fuel is consumed. Dur ing this gas-producing stage, I close the door 6' and open the door 9 to any extent that may be required to thoroughly consume the gases passing through the flamepassage 8, the quantity of air required being determined by observing the gases that flow out of the top of the kiln. In practice, I have observed that by closing, or practically closing door 9. the gases arising from the kiln take on a smoky a iipcarance showing lack of airto supply combustion. lVith door 9 properly adjusted, the gases arising from the kiln are practically invisible, showing practical consumption of smoke and During this gas-producing stage. the flames in the fire-box are intensive enough to consume whatever smoke is produced if a sufficient supply of fresh air through passage 7 is provided for, and, therefore, in this final stage of burning also I protect the products against sootmaking smoke.

lVith the furnace as heretofore constructed, the water smoking stage requires a high degree of skill and care owing to the fact that there is no positive control of the furnace: also during this preliminary process the fire is slow and the gases contain a large amount of soot which passes to the clay products, lodging on them, thus not only injuring the products but having a tendency to choke the draft and thus retard the burnlit) ing. All of: these ing my present method, tor thus cleaning the turna-se during this perioi I the fuel is so conigilcelv coi'isnnneil that only a fine ash reinai l l, as

s. In this Way I not only avoid.

injury to the product, but improve its quality. lhis also reduces the time of burning \i'uiterialiy.

I have l'ound by experience that l so meterially rare in fuel in the producer stage of the burning that the slight Waste surliered by allowing smoke and the con sun'iziibleg-t to pass out through passage 8 during the preliminar i stage is com nenszited For. 1 have found that I can operate my method with a comparatively low tei'i'iperature in the :liurnace so that expansion ol the furnace parts is not so great s with the old. type of turniicc, thus elimieating or reducing the expzii'ise of repairs due to iiallen arches and crowns which intensive heat causes.

hat I claim as new is:

1. A kiln Furnace or thetype having a fuel-grate, a shovel-stoting-door, and a rear flame-exit leading to the kiln, the top Wall of saidil urnace being provided with a tuelcharging passage this passage having a closure device adz'tpted to be opened or closed, maid -l'ilel-charging passage being located adjacent the "front wall of the furnace, at supplemental air-supply rassage being provided at the rear oi the turnace positioned to deliver air into the COlllbllStlOl'l-(llfllllbBL' at the inlet or the flame pas go, this sup plcniental aii passage being provided with an adjustable closure device.

2. The nethod herein described of burn ing clay products cons sting in diverting the smoke during the Water smoking, prelimiary stage oi tun-hing, away l ron'i the clay products and allowing only the fian'ie to enter the kiln chamber.

3. The method herein described 0t burning clay products consiitino in diverting the smolare generated during the preliminary, water smoking stage of burning away from the kiln chamber, then during the final, burn ing period ceasing; to divert the smoke and converting the furnace into a gas producer, whereby the entire products of combustion are consumed.

4-. The method herein described of burn 5; clay products cmr'i'sting in diverting the smoke generated during the preliminary water sn'ioking stage of burning away from the lciln chamber, then during the final burning period ceasing to divert the smoke and converting the furnace into a gas producer whereby the entire products of combustion are consin'i'led, a continuous supplemental supply oi? air being delivered into the furnace in positionto mingle with the flames at the outlet of the furnace.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

- JOSEPH ASHBY BEAMS. 

